Blackwolf Run (River Course)

The Blackwolf Run has two courses, the Meadow Valley Course and the River Course. Originally being 18 holes, it was extended into 2 courses totaling 36 holes. In the River Course, the Sheboygan river that meanders throughout the course intertwines through 10 of the 18 holes. There are many holes that are located alongside the river. Therefore, it can be said not only does the course use the river as a strategically valuable obstacle, but also the uses the natural river and several artificial ponds to enhance the overall aesthetics. Since there are various elevation differences throughout the holes, players won’t be able to score pars unless their shots are quite accurate. All four of Par 5s in this course are quite characteristic and will leave memorable impressions on players. In the US Women's Open in 2012, the first nine holes used Meadow Valley’s 10th to 18th hole, and the latter nine holes used the 1st to 4th, and the 14th to 10th holes of the River course. During the autumn season, it is said that players can see salmons going upstream in the river.

A view from clubhouse

A view of 10th green

Squirrel

The first hole is a double dogleg that first bends towards the left around a river, and bends towards the right. There are the river on the left and some big bunkers on the right off the tee. On the second shot, the landing area is squeezed by the four bunkers at both at the left & right side of the fairway. The green is 44 yards long, and is guarded by a bunker and river on its left side. GOLF Magazine selected this hole in the category of the World Best 500 Holes in the year 2000 (the latest edition to date).

The fifth hole is a straight par four with a river flowing on the fairway’s right-hand side. The view from tee is quite stunning. The tee shot is downhill and there is a large bunker on the right between the fairway and river. If you hit onto one-thirds of the fairway towards the left side, it is easier to aim for the green on the uphill approach shot. Since the green slopes from front to back, you should avoid going long and over the green. This hole was also selected to be in the World Best 500 Holes in 2000 (the latest version to date) by GOLF Magazine.

A par five with a dog leg that bends strongly towards the right. The tee shot is very strong downhill, so the hole is reachable in two shots as long as taking a risk and driving down over a cluster of high trees on the right to clear them. If unsuccessful, the ball will be disappeared into the forest or the river. The fairway before the green is divided into two by the difference in elevation. There are three options you can choose on their second shot. The first is to aim directly at the green. The second is to lay up towards the lower left fairway. (Although the fairway is wider on the left, an approach shot from this location will be more difficult because of the uphill.) The third option is to take a risk and lay up towards the right higher fairway (The landing area is much narrower with a river running on its right but easier approach to the green). The green is strongly undulated, and tilts towards the right.

A par five with a strong dogleg that bends towards the right. You should pay attention to the river on the right side on the tee shot. The second shot is slightly downhill over the river. Two trees in the second landing area that are aligned along the river will come into play on the approach shot if your ball is close to the trees. While the river guards the left side of the green, bunkers protect its left front and its backside.

The 16th hole is a par five dogleg that first bends to the left before bending to the right. There is a large bunker on the left and bushes on the right, which await your errant shots off their tee shot. The second is a downhill shot and the river flowing alongside the left side of the fairway will come into play. The green is 44 yards deep and its left side faces the river while its right side is guarded by a large bunker.

The finishing hole is a quite long par four with a dogleg to the left with a river running along the left side A very long bunker stretches from the teeing ground to the green for the entire left side. The green is huge and shared with one of the 18th hole of the Meadow Valley course.